Portable arrow checking device

ABSTRACT

A portable device for checking the straightness of an archery arrow which comprises a housing, an electric motor and an arrangement for selectively energizing the motor in the housing. The motor has an output shaft to which is coupled means for engaging the head of an archery arrow, whereby the arrow can be rotated rapidly about its axis and any warp in the arrow observed.

United States Patent 1 Sigl Y 'i 1 1 Oct. 24, 1972 [54] PORTABLE ARROW CHECKING 3,525,919 8/1970 Wise "310/50 DEVICE 2,648,790 8/ 1953 Harmon ..310/66 [72] Inventor: Jon D. Sig], Box 22 Conway, 1,791,988 2/1931 Weibull ..310/s0 ux Mich. 49722 I 2,520,020 8/1950 $01105) ..3 10/47 [221 Filed 1971 Primary Examiner-J. D. Miller [21] Appl. No.: 112,249 Assistant Examiner-RLSkudy Attorney-Hood, Gust, Irish, Lundy & Coffey 52] US. Cl. ..3l0/66, 310/50, 273/1065 [51] Int. Cl. ..H02k 7/00 [57] ABSTRACT Field 01 Search 63 68 B, 1 A portable device for checking the straightness of an 310/68 C, 66, 89; 73/ 106-5; 3 archery arrow which comprises a housing, an electric 200/153 T152 motor and an arrangement for selectively energizing the motor in the housing. The motor has an output [56] Reiemnces c'ted shaft to which is coupled means for engaging the head UNH'ED STATES PATENTS of an archery arrow, whereby the arrow can be rotatedrapidly about its axis and any warp in the 3,467,843 9/1969 Dailey ..310/s9 arrow observed 2,876,822 3/1959 Groves ..273/106.5 v 1,777,847 10/1930 Halvorsen ..310/68 C 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures I Hi Ill I 84 88 82 78 8O J 86 74 72 5e 56 28 l 9Q 68 I '1 ,I 64 I I F 26 50 1' 98 1 ll 1/ 92 1 I I- /2 .l 4 2 55 h 116V 1 1X 33 12 l PATENTED I972 3.700.940

sum 2 OF 2 INVENTOR.

JON D. SIGL Mud, {'im (ML/v 41 1 """//'1:

ATTORNEYS PORTABLE ARROW CHECKING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION larly tosuch a device which engages the head of an arrow and spins the arrow shaft, thereby enabling an archer to observe the amount and location of any warp in the arrow shaft.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The ability of an archer to shoot an arrowaccurately depends in part upon the straightness or trueness of the arrow being used. If the arrow is bent or warped, it will not provide an accurate sight line for aiming the arrow, and will be caused to deviate from its normal, expected trajectory.

One prior art device for checking the straightness of an arrow is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,474 issued to Frederick J. Hercher which discloses a device wherein an arrow is magnetically suspended with its axis lying in a vertical plane, and manually rotated thereabout. If the arrow is not dynamically balanced, it will swing axially away from the vertical axis. This device, however, does not provide a means for observing the amount or location of any warp in the arrow, and when used out of doors its operation can be adversely affected by wind conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention in its broader aspects provides a device for checking the straightness of an archery arrow and comprises a housing, an electric motor and means for selectively energizing the motor in the housing. Means for engaging the head of an arrow is operatively coupled to the motor for rotation thereby.

In one embodiment, the motor has a movable portion and the energizing means includes switch means operatively engaged with the movable portion of the motor. The engaging means is also coupled to the movable portion of the motor, whereby, when the head portion of an arrowis pushed against the engaging means, the switch means is actuated and the motor energized, causing the shaft of the arrow to be rotated.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a device for checking the straightness of an archery arrow.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for spinning an arrow about its longitudinal axis.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such a device which is automatic in its operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device for checking the straightness of an archery arrow which can be used out of doors and which requires no special skills to operate.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a device which is simple in construction, economical to produce, and reliable in operation.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

. 2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of the arrow straightness checking device of the present invention, the device being shown with the cover removed;

FIG. 2 is a side crosssectional view taken generally along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a view in perspective showing the arrow straightness checking device of the invention shown with an arrow engaged therewith and further illustrating the operation of the device; and

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a modified form of the arrow straightness checking device of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated an arrow straightness checking device, indicated generally at 10, and comprising housing 12 having generally parallel, spaced-apart side walls 14 and 16 and end wall 18. Centrally disposed partition 20 extends transversely across housing 12 dividing it into motor compartment 22 and battery compartment 24.

Motor compartment 22 is generally rectangular and has perimetral ledge 26 formed in the walls thereof. Conventional direct current electric motor 28 is received within compartment 22 with the axis of its output shaft 30 extending parallel to side walls 14 and 16 of housing 12. Motor compartment 22 is proportionecl snugly to engage motor 28, as at 32, with casing 33 of motor 28 being supported in a vertical direction by ledge 26. Motor 28 may be of the type provided with a permanent magnet field, preferably has an operating speed of between 500 and 1500 RPM, and is so constructed that the output shaft 30 thereof has approximately one-sixteenth of an inch end play whereby output shaft 30 of the motor 28 may move axially with respect to motor casing 33, for a purpose explained below.

Push-button switch 38 is secured to the bottom wall 40 of motor compartment 22 by threaded fasteners 42, 44 which pass downwardly through switch 38 and threadedly engage tapped holes (not shown) in bottom wall 40 of housing 12. Switch 38 is provided with an actuating plunger 46 which is positioned in axial alignment with output shaft 30. Bushing 48 is secured to plunger 46 and has concave recess 50 in its end which rotatably receives rounded end portion 52 of motor output shaft 30. Switch 38 is of the momentary contact type having internal spring means, schematically illustrated in dotted lines as a helical spring 54, which resiliently maintains plunger 46 in an upwardly extended portion, as viewed in FIG. 2. Spring 54 should have sufficient resilience to support the movable portion of the motor, in this case output shaft 30 and rotor not shown), to inhibit axial movement thereof resulting from jarring of the device when it is being moved or carried.

Conventional battery clip 56 is positioned within battery compartment 24 and secured to partition 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and includes positive contact plate 58 and negative contact plate 60, both of which are fixedly secured to base insulator 62, the contact plates being shaped and proportioned to receive conventional dry batteries 64 therein. Contact plates 58 and 60 provide electrical connections to the positive and negative terminals 68, 66, respectively, of batteries 64.

First cover plate 70 is provided with a perimetral rabbet 72 which engages the interior wall of battery compartment 24, cover plate 70 being secured to and closing the end of housing 12 remote from end 18 by threaded fasteners 74.

Second cover plate 78 is secured to and closes the top of housing 12 by threaded fasteners 80 which are threadedly received in tapped holes 81 in walls 14, 16 of the housing 12. Generally cylindrical hub portion 82 extends upwardly'from cover 78 coaxially of output shaft 30 of the motor 28 and cylindrical bore 84 extends coaxially therethrough.

Generally cylindrical member 86 is rotatably received in bore 84 and has its end fixedly secured to output shaft 30 for rotation therewith. The distal end of member 86 has recess 88 formed therein which is shaped and proportioned to engage head 96 of archery arrow 94. Cylindrical member 86 may be formed as an integral part of the-output shaft 30 to ensure the concentricity of recess 88 with motor shaft 30, or alternately, may be a separate element secured to output shaft 30 by a set screw or the like.

Conventional spring clip 90 is fixedly secured to the housing 12 by rivets 92, clip 90 providing a means for attaching the arrow straightness checking device to a conventional archery quiver.

To use the arrow straightness checking device l0, archery arrow 94 is positioned with its head 96 engaging recess 88 of cylindrically member 86. The archer holds the arrow between his thumb and forefinger as shown in FIG. 3 and exerts a downward pressure thereon. Because shaft of motor 28 is movable axially due to the end play thereof, this pressure causes member 86 and output shaft 30 to move downwardly as indicated by arrow 98, rounded end 52 of output shaft 30 pushing against bushing 48 to depress plunger 46 of switch 38, thus closing switch 38 and energizing motor 28. Motor 28 rotates cylindrical member 86 causing arrow 94 to spin between the archers fingers. Any warp or bend in the arrow causes the shaft of the arrow to vibrate, and due to the speed of rotation, the amount and location of the warp can be easily detected by the archer.

Referring now to FIG. 4, wherein like numerals refer to like elements, there is illustrated a modification of the arrow straightness checking device of this invention. In this embodiment, motor 28 is loosely fitted in motor chamber 22 and resiliently vertically supported therein by spring 100, whereby the entire motor 28 will move downwardly when arrow 94 is pressed downwardly on cylindrical member 86, thereby actuating switch 38 and spinning the shaft of the arrow as above described. The spring must, of course, have sufficient strength to support motor 28 in the absence of pressure thereon. Similarly, switch 38 may be mounted with its plunger extending outwardly of the housing whereby the switch may be closed manually.

It is apparent that only one hand is required to use the device of this invention, the archers other hand being free to hold a bow or the like. This device requires no special skills to use, and is not adversely affected by wind or environmental conditions encountered in the field. Further, the checking device is fully portable, and automatic in its operation.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for checking the straightness of an archery arrow comprising a housing, means rotatably journaled in said housing for drivingly engaging the head of an archery arrow, an electric motor having an output shaft received in said housing, said engaging means being coupled to said output shaft for rotation therewith and including a cylindrical member rotatably journaled in said housing with its axis in parallel alignment with the output shaft of said motor, said member having a distal end with a recess therein disposed coaxially of the axis thereof, said recess having a size and shape proportioned frictionally to receive the head of an archery arrow, and energizing means for supplying electrical energy to said motor including switch means for selectively energizing the same.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said energizing means includes a dry battery having positive and negative terminals and said motor is a direct current motor having two terminals, one of said battery terminals being connected in series with said motor, said switch being connected in series between the other of said battery terminals and the other of said motor terminals.

3. A device for checking the straightness of an archery arrow comprising a housing, means rotatably journaled in said housing for drivingly engaging the head of an archery arrow, an electric motor having an output shaft and being received in said housing, said engaging means being coupled to said output shaft for rotation therewith, energizing means for supplying electrical energy to said motor including switch means for selectively energizing the same, and means for removably clamping said device to an archery arrow quiver.

4. A device for checking the straightness of an archery arrow comprising a housing, means rotatably journaled in said housing for drivingly engaging the head of an archery arrow, an electric motor having an output shaft and being received in said housing, said engaging means being coupled to said output shaft for rotation therewith, energizing means for supplying electrical energy to said motor including switch means for selectively energizing the same, said housing including an end wall, said electric motor being a direct current motor positioned in said housing with the axis of said output shaft perpendicular to said end wall, said engaging means including a cylindrical member journaled in said end wall and fixedly secured to said output shaft with its axis in parallel alignment with the axis of said output shaft, said engaging means having a distal end with a recess therein, said recess being coaxial with the axis of said member and having a size and shape proportioned to frictionally receive the head of an archery arrow, said motor including a rotor, said output shaft being secured to said rotor and having a distal end remote from said cylindrical member, said switch means including an actuating push button having a ing spring means for resiliently resisting the axial move- 6 ment of said rotor and output shaft, and said energizing means including a dry battery, said switch means being connected electrically in series between said battery and said motor. t 

1. A device for checking the straightness of an archery arrow comprising a housing, means rotatably journaled in said housing for drivingly engaging the head of an archery arrow, an electric motor having an output shaft received in said housing, said engaging means being coupled to said output shaft for rotation therewith and including a cylindrical member rotatably journaled in said housing with its axis in parallel alignment with the output shaft of said motor, said member having a distal end with a recess therein disposed coaxially of the axis thereof, said recess having a size and shape proportioned frictionally to receive the head of an archery arrow, and energizing means for supplying electrical energy to said motor including switch means for selectively energizing the same.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said energizing means includes a dry battery having positive and negative terminals and said motor is a direct current motor having two terminals, one of said battery terminals being connected in series with said motor, said switch being connected in series between the other of said battery terminAls and the other of said motor terminals.
 3. A device for checking the straightness of an archery arrow comprising a housing, means rotatably journaled in said housing for drivingly engaging the head of an archery arrow, an electric motor having an output shaft and being received in said housing, said engaging means being coupled to said output shaft for rotation therewith, energizing means for supplying electrical energy to said motor including switch means for selectively energizing the same, and means for removably clamping said device to an archery arrow quiver.
 4. A device for checking the straightness of an archery arrow comprising a housing, means rotatably journaled in said housing for drivingly engaging the head of an archery arrow, an electric motor having an output shaft and being received in said housing, said engaging means being coupled to said output shaft for rotation therewith, energizing means for supplying electrical energy to said motor including switch means for selectively energizing the same, said housing including an end wall, said electric motor being a direct current motor positioned in said housing with the axis of said output shaft perpendicular to said end wall, said engaging means including a cylindrical member journaled in said end wall and fixedly secured to said output shaft with its axis in parallel alignment with the axis of said output shaft, said engaging means having a distal end with a recess therein, said recess being coaxial with the axis of said member and having a size and shape proportioned to frictionally receive the head of an archery arrow, said motor including a rotor, said output shaft being secured to said rotor and having a distal end remote from said cylindrical member, said switch means including an actuating push button having a plunger, said switch means being secured in said housing with said plunger in abutting engagement with said distal end of said output shaft, said rotor and output shaft being axially movable a distance sufficient to operate said switch plunger, said switch means including spring means for resiliently resisting the axial movement of said rotor and output shaft, and said energizing means including a dry battery, said switch means being connected electrically in series between said battery and said motor. 